Medical Emergencies + First Aid
Asthma answer ✓✓ -narrows air passage in the lungs
-triggered by allergy, anxiety, no obvious cause
Asthma - medication (inhalers) answer ✓✓ -preventor (brown/red) TAKEN EVERYDAY
-reliever (blue/green) WHEN SUFFERING AN ATTACK
Asthma - signs + symptoms answer ✓✓ -difficulty in BREATHING (particularly out)
-WHEEZING
-SPEAKING with difficulty
-CYANOSIS (especially lips + fingernails)
Asthma - treatment answer ✓✓ Breathing:
-position, sit up with elbows on tray table in front
-breathe slowly and deeply, exhale against lips
-oxygen if necessary
Examine:
-own medication, inhaler
Special considerations: oxygen on low flow, rest elbows on knees if resting on table not possible,
PA for MQP if no inhaler
Allergic reaction - signs + symptoms answer ✓✓ -SWELLING of lips, face, neck and tongue
-difficulty in BREATHING
-difficulty in SWALLOWING
-RASH
-PULSE may be rapid, weak and/or irregular Anaphylactic shock answer ✓✓ Airway becomes very swollen and inflamed- allergic reaction kills
Allergic reaction - treatment answer ✓✓ Airway: swelling - possible complete closure of the air passage
Breathing: position if necessary, oxygen
Circulation: be prepared to resuscitate Examine: may have an EpiPen
*note: CC must not use EpiPen, only MQP can (PA for MQP asap), paramedics on arrival, diversion in anaphylaxis)
Superficial burns (first degree) answer ✓✓ -outer layer of the skin
-red
-tenderness and swelling
Partial thickness burns (second degree) answer ✓✓ -several layers of the skin
-raw, blisters will form
-usually require medical attention
Full thickness burns (third degree) answer ✓✓ -all layers of skin
-nerves, muscles, fat
-always requires medical attention + specialist treatment
Superficial burns - treatment answer ✓✓ 1 Cool the burn with COLD WATER immediately for AT LEAST 10 MINS
2 Remove any JEWELLERY or CONSTRICTIVE CLOTHING from the area before SWELLING occurs
3 If pain persists after cooling, use COOLING GEL
4 If necessary, cover with a BURNS DRESSING
5 ELEVATE the injured area to reduce swelling 6 Encourage pax to DRINK WATER
7 PROMOTE RECOVERY
Partial/Full thickness burns - treatment answer ✓✓ 1 Cool the burn with COLD WATER immediately for AT LEAST 10 MINS
2 Remove any JEWELLERY or CONSTRICTIVE CLOTHING from the area before SWELLING occurs
3 If necessary, cover with DRY STERILE BANDAGE
4 ELEVATE the injured area to reduce swelling
5 Encourage pax to DRINK WATER
6 PROMOTE RECOVERY
Partial/Full thickness burns treatment DO NOTs answer ✓✓ -Break blisters
-Apply lotions/ointments
-Remove anything sticking to the burn
First stage of labour (3-12 hours) answer ✓✓ -begins from the onset of painful regular contractions to full dilation of the cervix
-lower backache
-regular contractions increasing in intensity, shortening in time
-sac of fluid bursts, gush of blood-stained fluid
Second stage of labour (up to 2 hours) answer ✓✓ -from the full dilation of the cervix to the birth
-urge to push
-baby's head should be visible when the area between the vagina and anus bulges
-do not pull/attempt to cut umbilical cord
Third stage of labour (up to 30mins) answer ✓✓ -from the birth to the complete expulsion of the
afterbirth, cord and membranes